Song #22: “Help Me”

The last bit of inadvertent influence my father had on the music I listen to — and it’s a big one — is from Sonny Boy Williamson. My father happened to buy a Sonny Boy Williamson record. He didn’t listen to it. I did and my head nearly exploded. Most of my favourite artists are influenced by the blues. I hear the blues in everything. I still listen to and appreciate the music of plenty of great blues artists like B.B. King, Blind Willie McTell, Howlin’ Wolf, James Cotton, Lightin’ Hopkins, Little Walter, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Pinetop Perkins, Skip James, Son House, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. But if I have to pick the one blues artist who can’t do wrong, who I know, whatever track you pick, I’m going to love it, it’s Sonny Boy Williamson. In my book, he’s the embodiment of everything that is the blues.